JLPT N5
ません
Polite negative
Structure
Verb stem ません
How it works
The form 〜ません is the polite negative ending for verbs in Japanese. It is used to express that an action does not happen habitually or will not happen in the future. To form it, you remove the dictionary ending and attach ません to the verb stem.
Examples
あしたは学校へ行きません。
I will not go to school tomorrow.
私は肉を食べません。
I do not eat meat.
お酒は飲みません。
I don't drink alcohol.
Common mistakes
Don't confuse the present negative (〜ません) with the past negative (〜ませんでした). Using 〜ません for something that already happened is grammatically incorrect.
Tip
Think of 〜ません as the 'No' version of 〜ます. If a verb ends in 〜ます, change it to 〜ません to make it negative.
More JLPT N5 grammar
See ません in real Japanese
Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.
Try InputDojo free